Maharajas and Mountain Kingdoms – India & Nepal

Itinerary

Itinerary:
Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Delhi - Kathmandu - Chitwan - Pokhara - Neydo
Duration:
16 days / 15 nights (flexible)
Price:
from £ 2,335.- per person (excluding flights)

Travel from the extravagant palaces of Jaipur and chaotic spice bazaars of Delhi to atmospheric Kathmandu on a journey into the heart of the Himalayas. Watch the day break over the Taj Mahal before flying into beautiful Nepal, tucked away between mountain peaks. Track rhinos on the tropical plains of Chitwan National Park, stay in a monastery and wander between fluttering rainbow prayer flags on the hills of Kathmandu.

Days 1-2 – India: Delhi

After your international flight, you’ll arrive in the heart of India, Delhi. Our driver will collect you from the airport and transfer you to your hotel in the Karol Bagh area. You can freshen up at your hotel and then head out to visit the local area. Your hotel is located near to both the ancient spice bazaars of Chandi Chowk and the modern glitz of Connaught Place.

You’ll travel by private car towards Mandawa, with a few stops along the way. Your travel time will be between 6 to 7 hours. Leave the tourist trail behind, exploring dust-swirled desert towns and sleeping in traditional clay huts. It’s an authentic way to experience life in one of India’s most captivating and remote desert regions. The Shekhawati is home to a cluster of beautifully ornate haveli houses complete with bright mosaics, colourful murals and shady courtyards.

Next, you’ll journey overland by private car to Jaipur (approx. 5 hours). Visit mystical monkey temples and ghost cities en route to sunrise at the Taj Mahal. A real wonder of the world, it’s a building that will take your breath away. India’s Golden Triangle is the stuff of legend, with the ethereal Taj Mahal at its pinnacle. This trip will take you from the Pink City of Jaipur to Agra, where you’ll watch dawn break over the Taj Mahal.

Next, you’ll be transferred to the train station where you’ll board the day train back to Delhi. This is a two-hour comfortable journey, giving you the perfect chance to experience the Indian Railways. On arrival at Delhi train station, our driver will collect you. Wander between cobbled streets and scattered temples in the atmospheric medieval cities of the Kathmandu Valley, feeling utterly lost in a timeless daydream. Combining the enchanting chaos of Kathmandu with nearby Bhaktapur and Patan and get straight to the heart of mystical valley culture. Weave between fluttering prayer flags, watch monkeys scamper through temple complexes and kids play with paper kites in the cobbled streets.

Next, you’ll take a bus all the way to Chitwan. This should take about 5 hours. Set off on an adventure in search of the one-horned rhino. Glide along twisting rivers in a canoe at dawn, watching golden light flood the plains, and watch elephants gather at the shores in the early morning haze. The lush subtropical lowlands of Chitwan National Park are bursting with wildlife and adventure, so get your binoculars at the ready. Take a walking safari, sleep in a scenic bungalow and sail past crocodiles sunning themselves on the riverbank. It’s a rustic outdoor experience that will bolt your eyes wide open.

You’ll then board the bus to Pokhara, a 6-hour journey away. Relax in peaceful Pokhara, where snowy peaks reflect in the calm waters of the Phewa Lake, prayer flags flutter and Buddhist chants seep from every doorway. It’s a laid-back place with a fairytale feeling, dozens of ramshackle, arty cafes and an endless list of adventures in store. Take a white knuckle rafting trip, paraglide over the rippling lake or rent a boat and paddle through the tranquil waters, surrounded by the Himalayas on all sides. After a day spent exploring, stretch out in the sunshine on the shoreline and let it all sink in. Pokhara feels tinged with magic, making it very hard to leave.

Our driver will collect you from your hotel in Pokhara and transfer you to Neydo monastery. This is a truly unique experience and opportunity to witness everyday life in a Tibetan monastery in Nepal. You’ll be staying in a guesthouse at the Neydo Monastery, nestled in the Kathmandu Valley. Watch the monks praying, chanting and offering sacrifices. You’ll have an early start as the bells ring to wake the monks at 5am and you’ll witness them having debates, praying for world peace and learning to write and read Tibetan. Finally, it’s time to head home. Our driver will collect you and transfer you to Kathmandu airport, from where you’ll board your flight home.